"Fireside Diaries"
Story Written by Freedom Fighter

You guys wanted it, so... season four of "Fireside Diaries" has arrived! There's a lot happening this time around, but nothing happens until we show you what happened following the end of last season. You know, with Baljeet choosing Adyson over Ginger? Yeah, you remember.

Ginger seemed okay with the rejection. But is she really fine with it?

Disclaimer: The characters of 'Phineas and Ferb' belong to Disney.

Prerequisites (i.e. read these first before reading this):
- Entry #093 ("Phineas is Mine!")
- Entry #425 ("Fireside Diaries," Episode 315)

Entry #426 - Written by Isabella Garcia-Shapiro, troop leader

So, things have kinda been strange the last few days...

Monday morning, at Danville Elementary...

"Ginger Hirano."

Mr. Worth was in the process of taking attendance. He had said Ginger's name clearly, yet when Isabella looked over to her friend's desk, she was not there.

"Ginger Hirano?"

Gretchen, Holly, and Adyson also turned to look towards Ginger's empty desk. Then they looked at each other...

Ginger's kinda gone AWOL...

Tuesday...

"Ginger Hirano?"

After looking at her once again empty desk, the girls then turned to look at Isabella, who shrugged her shoulders and gave an 'I don't know' look...

Wednesday...

"Ginger Hirano?"

Following another glance at Ginger's desk, Holly and Gretchen watched as Isabella glared across the room at Adyson, who in turn silently mouthed a 'What do you want me to do?' response.

Thursday...

"Ginger Hirano?"

While Mr. Worth prepared to mark Ginger absent for a fourth straight day, Adyson was seen handing a note to someone which, got passed around until it reached Isabella. She unopened it and saw that Adyson had written three words.

"She won't answer," Isabella read them, silently.

After what happened over the weekend between her, Adyson, and Baljeet, we were beginning to fear the worst...

Friday...

"Ginger Hirano? Is she absent again?"

Mr. Worth turned towards Isabella, expecting her to have an answer.

"Isabella? Do you know what's going on with Ginger?"

Isabella opened her mouth to answer...

...and then...

The door to the classroom swung open. Ginger entered, with a sad look on her face. But she was not alone, as her mom, Dr. Hirano, was with her. She and Mr. Worth talked for about a minute, during which time she handed him a doctor's note. Once they were done, she turned towards her daughter.

"No more sulking! Go!"

She pointed at Ginger's desk. Ginger nodded in compliance. She took her seat at her desk, and Dr. Hirano left so that attendance could resume. Mr. Worth continued while the girls all looked Ginger's way, all curious to find out where she has been the last few days.

-
Entry #426 [FSD401] - Aftermath (06.10.13)
-

At lunch in the cafeteria, Ginger was sighing in depression as she sat all alone, with no one within three seats of her at the table she was sitting at. And that was by choice. Isabella saw this from afar, still very concerned about her friend and fellow troop member.

"Something's not right."

The other girls nodded in agreement, including fifth-graders Katie and Milly, who had joined their elders. Gretchen vocalized what she thought based on her observations that morning.

"You don't think she's still... you know... that."

Suddenly, all eyes turned to Adyson. Seeing their stares, she immediately jumped to her own defense.

"Hey! She seemed okay with Baljeet's choice! And it's not like I haven't been reaching out and checking on her. I texted her every day after school this week, but she didn't respond to any of them! And when to her house the other day, her sister told me explicitly that Ginger didn't want to talk with me!"

"Yeah," interjected Milly. "I was there with her."

Adyson glanced down towards the end of the table, and specifically, towards Baljeet. Normally, the girls sat with the boys - mostly because of Isabella wanting to be next to Phineas - but today they had purposely sat down a dozen seats or so away from them so they could have this discussion about Ginger.

"Argh!" groaned Adyson. "She's making me feel like I'm the bad guy!"

"I'd say you are," noted Isabella, "but now's not the time. We have to check on Ginger and make sure she really IS over this."

"Fine. But she won't talk to me."

Isabella stood up. "Maybe she'll talk to me."

The girls watched as Isabella went over to Ginger.

"Ginger, can we talk?"

Isabella took a seat next to Ginger, but the second she did, Ginger decided to get up and walk away, leaving her half-full lunch tray behind.

"Ginger? Ginger!"

Isabella could only watch as Ginger, without doing so much as take one look back, marched right out of the cafeteria. Disappointed, Isabella returned to the others.

"See?" pointed out Adyson. "It's not just me... she won't talk to anyone!"

"We've got to get through to her," Gretchen spoke up. "In the state of mind she's in, who knows what she might do!"

"I agree," said Isabella, retaking her seat. "Time to use everything we've learned in getting our Group Intervention patches last month!"

Holly took out an intervention guide manual, Gretchen opened up the word processor program on her laptop, and Katie pulled out... a tray of fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies?

"What?" questioned Katie, seeing the strange looks the others were giving her. "Interventions need snacks!"

We knew time was of the essence. The sooner we could get Ginger out of her depression and get over losing Baljeet to Addy, the better!

The final bell had rang, and students streamed out of their classrooms and to their lockers, ecstatic that school was done for the week. But as other kids around them got their things, Isabella was preparing her troops for their intervention.

"Okay," Isabella said, huddled around Adyson, Gretchen, and Holly, "Ginger's taking a couple minutes to get make-up work from Mr. Worth. When she comes out of the classroom, that's when we surround her. Between the four of us, there's no way she'll escape!"

"Aye aye, Chief!" Gretchen saluted in agreement.

Adyson and Holly also agreed by simply nodding their heads. Isabella closed her locker and the group started heading back towards the classroom entrance.

"Oh, forgot something!" Isabella yelped. "I'll catch up."

Isabella ran back and opened her locker up once more. As she pulled out a log-shaped container with Fireside Girl Cupcakes inside, she heard a familiar catchphrase coming from a very familiar source.

"Ferb! I know what we're gonna do today!"

Meanwhile, at that exact moment, Ginger walked out of the classroom. Not looking where she was going, she bumped into Gretchen, who had stepped forward to provide first contact. As a result, her glasses fell to the ground.

"Hey! My glasses!"

Ginger walked by Gretchen, who squatted down and started feeling her way around the floor to find her eyewear. Holly was the next to confront Ginger. She opened her mouth to tell her to stop...

"Not now, Holly," Ginger said, without even looking at her.

Ginger started walking a little faster, having figured out what the girls were trying to do. Adyson came up next to her, and started matching her stride for stride.

"Ginger, we really, REALLY need to talk!"

"I have nothing to say to you, Adyson!"

She picked up her pace. Adyson did the same to keep up.

"We need to talk about..."

"I said I'm done!"

Again, Ginger sped up. And, once more, Adyson did the same.

"Ginger!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Suddenly, Ginger took off, running away from Adyson. The brunette attempted to give chase, but she tripped her own two feet and fell to the ground.

"Oomph! Isabella! She's getting away!"

In trying to warn Isabella, though, Adyson had pointed out her position to Ginger. The Japanese girl was almost to her, and as she passed, Ginger gave Isabella a 'try and stop me' look. Isabella, for her part, just stood there and let her friend run past without even attempting to stop her. Ginger reached the stairs without further impediment, escaping the intervention.

Adyson walked up to Isabella with a displeased look on her face, along with Holly and Gretchen - wearing her glasses once more - in tow.

"Izzy! You were supposed to have our back! What happened?"

When she did not respond, the girls decided to see what Isabella was staring at. Or, rather, who...

Phineas.

Okay, okay! In my defense...

Yeah, I got nothing.

Adyson groaned while Gretchen snapped her fingers in front of Isabella's face, bringing her back to reality. It also helped that Phineas had started to walk away, with his stepbrother Ferb as well.

"Who, what, where, when, why?"

When Isabella came to, she saw Gretchen adjusting her glasses, Adyson dusting some dirt off of her clothes, and Holly staring at her with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Well, that was a great time to get lost in Phineasland," mumbled Isabella, sarcastically.

"Now what, Chief?" asked Gretchen. "By attempting an intervention, we may have just spurred Ginger into accelerating into an action that may not be good for her well-being!"

"We have to go after her!" suggested Adyson.

"No," Isabella said. "It's my fault she got away. I should be the one to go after her. Alone."

"But that's crazy! She'll just run away, like she did before!"

"Don't worry. I know of one way to get to her."

Isabella reached up and rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, the front door opened and Dr. Hirano stepped out.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Hirano!" greeted Isabella.

"Hello, Isabella," she said in reply. "Let me guess... you're here to see Ginger?"

"Uh huh. Yes, ma'am."

"Good luck trying to get her to open up. I've tried, but apparently four-and-a-half years of medical school means nothing when it comes to 21st Century girl problems."

Isabella was ready to walk in, but just in case Ginger's mother was having second thoughts, she pulled out the log-shaped container from earlier and opened it to show off the three cupcakes inside.

"Cupcake?"

"You DO know those things are filled with sugar, butter, and other things that aren't good for your health, right?"

"Yes. Yes, I do."

"As long as we're clear."

She then took one from the container and took a bite into it. Isabella closed the container shut and went into the house, allowing Dr. Hirano to close the front door behind her. Isabella made her way to the kitchen, and in turn, to the sliding door that led into the backyard. But standing, or rather, sitting in her way, on a barstool, was Stacy. She was currently on her cell phone talking to somebody, but upon seeing Isabella approach, she prepared to stop.

"Candace, can you hold on a sec?"

Stacy lowered her arm so that her phone was held next to her at waist level, and then she got up and blocked the door.

"Sorry, Isabella, but Ginger told me not to let anyone through."

The two engaged in a stare down, with neither of them willing to make a move until the other did. Then, without warning, Isabella made her move.

"Cupcake?" she said, opening the container and flashing her cutest smile.

Stacy responded to the action the only way she knew possible.

"Thanks!"

She took one of the two remaining cupcakes and immediately took a bite out of it. Stacy then walked off, lifting her phone up to resume her conversation.

"So, like I was saying..."

With Stacy gone, Isabella could finally get to the backyard. She closed her carrier and slid the door open. After sliding it closed behind her, Isabella made her way to the larger of the two maple trees outside. As she approached the trunk, she saw some rope hanging down from a tree branch. And the end of the rope that was visible to Isabella was done up in a hangman's knot.

Her mind started thinking the worst, and her fears were realized when she saw a pair of legs straddling the large branch.

"No. No, no, no, NO!"

Hoping to stop Ginger, Isabella started running closer to the tree, throwing the cupcake container aside.

"Ginger! Don't do it! You have too much to live for!"

She stopped directly underneath where Ginger was sitting, which meant that if the Asian girl wanted to jump, she would have to fall right on top of Isabella. Ginger, though, seemed genuinely confused at her troop leader's theatrics.

"Uh, Isabella? What in blazes are you talking about?"

"Ginger, look! I know you're sad that Baljeet chose Adyson over you, but... what you're going to do ISN'T the answer!"

Ginger stared at the noose, the tree branch she was sitting on, and at the worried look on Isabella's face, in succession. Putting two and two together, she figured out what her friend thought she was about to do... and she started freaking out.

"ARE YOU CRAZY? I'M NOT DOING ANY SUCH THING!"

"But... the rope..."

Ginger pointed at a large tire which was propped up against the tree trunk on the other side. Now it was Isabella's turn to read the other's mind.

"Oh... tire swing! Gotcha."

Ginger rolled her eyes. "Since I know escape is fruitless since you're a much better tree climber than I am... wanna help me finish?"

Isabella smiled in relief. "Sure."

20 minutes later, the two girls put the finishing touches on the tire swing. To ensure that it was secure, Ginger decided to sit in the tire. It supported her weight easily.

"Thanks," Ginger said in gratitude.

"You're welcome." Isabella grinned in response.

Isabella got behind Ginger and gave the tire a small push, sending it moving like a pendulum. Ginger gripped the insides of the tire tightly so that she would not fall off. Isabella stepped out of the way and allowed Ginger to swing back and forth for a little awhile. The Japanese girl really wanted to enjoy it, but she knew why Isabella had come... and she owed her an explanation.

"You're probably wondering the reason why I've been skipping school the whole week and avoiding you guys."

"Gee, I dunno. Something to do with Baljeet picking Adyson over you?"

"Okay, the reason for the reason why, then."

Isabella nodded. Ginger continued talking.

"You'd think I'd be angry at Adyson for 'stealing my boyfriend,' and for a little while, I was. But then I came to the realization that if I should be angry at anyone, I should be angry at myself. I've loved Baljeet for almost two years now. If I would've just come out and given my heart to him at the start, none of this would have ever happened!"

"Maybe..."

Ginger sighed as she got off the swing and sat down next to the tree. Isabella parked herself beside her.

"Look, Ginger, I know what you're going through. As someone who has a crush on a boy but is too afraid to come out and confess for fear of rejection or of being ignored because he's too dense, let me say that I'm here for you. And to help you better understand the mystery that is... boys!"

"I dunno, Chief," Ginger spoke, hesitantly. "You've never been in a situation where a friend tried to take your boyfriend."

Isabella crossed her arms over her chest and frowned at Ginger.

"Really? Last summer doesn't ring a bell?"

Ginger thought about it for a second. Then it hit her.

"Oh! The whole 'Phineas is Mine' deal. But I dropped out of that, remember?"

"The point is, Ginger, is that we're a lot alike. We've both had our boy crushes tested. And by people we consider our friends!"

"And Adyson."

"Uh, Adyson IS one of our friends."

Ginger huffed. Obviously, she was not sure she still felt that way.

"Things happen for a reason," Isabella continued, putting an arm around Ginger. "Even though Baljeet's with Adyson now, you can't give up hope! Maybe they're destined to be together. Maybe they're not. If the latter, then maybe some day down the road, you'll get another chance to win his heart. You just have to believe. And if you two are meant to be together, it will

happen."

"You really think so, Chief?"

"I don't think so. I KNOW so!"

The two girls then hugged.

"So, now that that's settled... I can expect you at the Fireside Girls meeting tomorrow morning?"

"You bet!"

"And you'll be nice to Addy?"

"Well, I'll try."

Isabella gave her a stare.

"Okay, Izzy, I will! I'll be nice to her!"

"Alright then." Isabella got up and headed back to the house. "See ya!"

As Isabella went in, Ginger took one last look at the tire swing as she started envisioning having to talk to Adyson at the lodge tomorrow.

I think I had succeeded in getting through to Ginger. In getting her to move on with her life...

...or did I?

The next morning...

"Alright, does everyone have their assignments?" Isabella asked from the podium.

"Yes, Chief!" replied Gretchen. "We're all set."

"Then this meeting is adjourned!"

Isabella verified her statement by banging the gavel on the podium. The girls were splitting into three teams today to do various tasks across the city. But before anyone could leave...

"Adyson! Can we talk for a minute?"

Hearing Ginger call her name, Adyson motioned for Gretchen, whom she was partnered with for the day, to wait for her outside. Once the two were the only ones in the lodge, Ginger began talking.

"Look, Adyson, I just want to apologize for the way I've been behaving the past week..."

Adyson raised a hand to interrupt.

"You don't have to apologize, Ginger. I know you're hurt about me dating Baljeet. It's okay. If you want to hit me or something, go ahead."

Adyson closed her eyes, expecting Ginger to take her up on her offer. But after waiting for 15 seconds and getting nothing at all, she reopened them.

"Ginger?"

"Adyson, I'm not going to hit you. In fact, I'm okay with you dating Baljeet."

Adyson was perplexed. "Say again?"

"I said I'm okay with you dating Baljeet. I was too scared to make a move and you weren't. That's how the cookie crumbles."

"But Ginger! I feel so sad about..."

"Nuh-uh! No buts! This is hard enough for me as it is!"

"Um. Alright."

"For years, I always thought my destiny was to be with Baljeet for the rest of my life! But maybe I was wrong. Maybe it's your destiny instead."

Adyson did not know what to say.

"I won't do anything to break you two up. If you and Baljeet are meant to be, then so be it. If not, well, so be it too!"

"Uh... thanks?"

"Just be gentle with him." Ginger gave Adyson a wink. "You know how sensitive he is."

"Oh, is he ever!"

The two laughed. Adyson then waved farewell as she left to catch up with Gretchen. Ginger had a smile on her face.

See? It just goes to show you that even if you lose the boy you have a crush on to one of your friends, you don't have to resort the physical violence to solve the issue. Just chill, talk it out, and move on. And if you truly are meant to be with your crush, everything will work itself out down the road.

Once she was sure Adyson had walked out the door, Ginger walked over to Isabella's desk in the corner of the room. She picked up a pencil, held it at both ends...

...and then cleanly snapped it in two with her bare hands.

She exhaled deeply after doing so.

"Adyson's your friend..." she thought to herself. "Be happy for her."

She deposited both halves in the trash can, and then ran for the exit to catch up with her partner-for-the-day.

End Entry

Next Week: Milly's pen pal is coming in for a visit, and she intends to impress him. The problem is, his letters seem to indicate he only goes for a certain type of girl. Is changing her image the way to a boy's heart? Find out the truth in the next all-new episode of the "Fireside Diaries."